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Irish Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Leinster's big hitters missing as Lions show kicks off with English-heavy side in Dublin
The ironies abound. Leinster had supposedly generated a degree of Aviva fatigue by earning five knock-out games at their temporary home this season before last Saturday's successful URC final segue in Croke Park. Now they are almost nowhere to be seen when the British & Irish Lions host Argentina this Friday at the Aviva Stadium (kick-off 8pm, live on TG4 and Sky Sports). Only two of Leinster's dozen inclusions in the 38-man squad will feature, and both Rónan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong are on the bench, with Andy Farrell resting all eight starters in last Saturday's win over the Bulls, while the head coach gave positive updates on last week's other absentees Jamison Gibson-Park and Hugo Keenan. So it is that the Lions' starting XV to be roared on by the 'home' crowd will feature nine English players. These include eight of the England starting XV which were beaten more soundly by Ireland on February 1st in this stadium than the 27-22 scoreline indicates , as well as the replacement outhalf that day, Fin Smith. There's still room for the Connacht duo of Finlay Bealham and Bundee Aki, as well as Mack Hansen on the bench, while the Munster captain Tadhg Beirne will partner captain Maro Itoje in the secondrow. There will also be two Scots in Duhan van der Merwe and Sione Tuipulotu and the tireless Welsh openside Jac Morgan, thereby ensuring all four countries are represented. READ MORE In another irony, through no fault of his own, Furlong has made the smallest contribution of any of their Lions contingent to the Leinster and Ireland campaigns, thanks to recurring calf and hamstring issues. His sole cap for Ireland was as a replacement in Rome on the final weekend of the Six Nations and, having been an unused replacement against Glasgow in round 18 of the URC, the last of his seven appearances and five starts for Leinster was in the Champions Cup semi-final defeat to Northampton seven weeks ago. But after apparently training impressively with the Lions, the experienced 32-year-old from Wexford will have an opportunity to prove his wellbeing at some juncture against Los Pumas as a replacement for Bealham. A fit and strong Furlong would be a huge boost to the Lions given his pedigree as a starting tighthead in all six Tests against New Zealand in 2017 and South Africa four years ago, and his motivation to complete the southern hemisphere cycle with a series win. 'He's fit, he's fit,' asserted Andy Farrell ahead of his first game as Lions head coach, 'and ready to go and train well. And he's as keen as everyone else to get the show on the road.' The irony of leading the Lions on the eve of his third tour in Dublin wasn't loss on Itoje, whose first game as England captain had been that aforementioned loss to Ireland on February 1st. Tadhg Furlong and Ellis Genge. Photograph: Dan Sheridan/Inpho 'It's been very nice to be so warmly received in Dublin,' he revealed with a broad smile. 'That tends not to be the case. It's going to be a great spectacle. It's one the players can't wait for to be honest. We can't wait to get out there and show ourselves and others what we're about. We're looking forward to it.' Plenty of water, along with six matches, will pass under the bridge between now and the first Test in Brisbane in a month's time, but Itoje's partnership with Beirne – a replacement in the first and second Tests four years ago – could be a precursor of things to come. 'I'm really enjoying spending time with Tadhg,' said Itoje. 'I spent a bit of time with him on the last tour. We built a good relationship and it's been amazing we've been able to continue that. He's a fantastic player. He has a level of physicality that's really impressive. I've been impressed with his leadership and how he is around the boys in a very calm and mature way.' The absence of the rest of the Leinster contingent along with the Bath duo of Finn Russell and Will Stuart, and Leicester's Ollie Chessum, forced Farrell's hand, and they will have some catching up to do after the squad lands in Perth next Sunday. But Farrell provided encouraging updates on Gibson-Park and Keenan, as well as the Glasgow and Scotland outside centre Huw Jones. 'They are all a week or so away from being fit. We didn't quite know until Jamison got another scan on Monday night which was pretty positive. Jack [van Poortvliet] comes over as cover for this game, Jamison should be up and running for the week after. 'Huw Jones has trained with us this week, and he's been back into full training, so that's great. Hugo Keenan ran for the first time a couple of days ago. Everything's going pretty well as far as that's concerned. And there's always one or two bumps and bruises that you're trying to nurse but the nature of rugby within itself. So, we're in good shape.' So, what did he want to see from this team in this non-Test warm-up match? 'Cohesion, connection. An ability to attack the game from the off and be the best version of themselves individually and collectively. You can give yourself any excuse in terms of time together. But we've had good preparation. If you want to be a good Lions player, you have to hit your straps straight from the off. We want to see these players compete.' British & Irish Lions : Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Sione Tuipulotu, Bundee Aki, Duhan van der Merwe; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Finlay Bealham; Maro Itoje (capt), Tadhg Beirne; Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, Ben Earl Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Pierre Schoeman, Tadhg Furlong, Scott Cummings, Henry Pollock, Tomos Williams, Elliot Daly, Mack Hansen Argentina: Santiago Carreras; Rodrigo Isgró, Lucio Cinti, Justo Piccardo, Ignacio Mendy; Tomás Albornoz, Gonzalo García; Mayco Vivas, Julian Montoya (capt), Joel Sclavi; Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo; Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo. Replacements: Bautista Bernasconi, Boris Wenger, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Santiago Grondona, Joaquin Moro, Simón Benitez Cruz, Matias Moroni, Santiago Cordero.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
IDA Ireland to spend ‘very significantly more' than €100m on site for FDI
IDA Ireland will spend 'significantly more' than €100 million to develop the first of three planned 'next generation sites' around the State, according to Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke . It is understood to be targeting the computer chip sector. The agency, charged with sourcing foreign direct investment for the State, plans to 'develop up to three significantly larger scale, pre-permitted developments' in regional locations, it disclosed in a five-year programme published in February. Speaking in advance of Enterprise Ireland 's Food Innovation Summit in Croke Park, on Wednesday, the Minister said the cost of acquiring the sites would be 'very significant'. 'We will be, in the next couple of weeks, bringing a very significant proposal to Cabinet for our first large scale next generation site,' he said, adding that it would be a site in the west of Ireland, capable of attracting a 'significant company of scale'. READ MORE It would, Mr Burke said, be a 'very strong competitive offering' to foreign direct investment. Asked whether the sites were being earmarked for computer chip manufacturers, the Minister said: 'The KPMG report [into the outlook for Ireland's semiconductor sector] sets out an absolute opportunity here of getting an additional workforce of over 30,000 by 2040, which would be very significant for the sector. 'Right through Covid, we saw significant blockages in manufacturing. We saw blockages in the automotive sector brought to a standstill. Why? Because of a lack of chips. Chips are so important to the digital economy. 'Obviously, the geography of Ireland is very attuned to semiconductor activity, but also need utilities and you need a very significant capacities, and infrastructure,' he said. The Government is looking at 'putting together a war chest for two more additional sites' with pathways to be 'utilities rich' in tandem with the National Development Plan Review, the Minister said. 'The cost will be very significant' given the cost of achieving utility connections with 'the way the site is structured', he said, though he declined to go into specifics on cost of the first site. Asked if it would be more than €100 million, the Minister said: 'Oh, very significantly more than that.' 'We need strategic forward planning to enhance our offer to investors,' the IDA said. 'Ireland must fundamentally reposition its offering to develop a select number of significantly larger-scale solutions in order to be competitive in attracting the next generation of very large-scale, sustainable, capital-intensive FDI.' IDA chief executive Michael Lohan said the sites would be between 500 and 1,000 acres in size but had not yet been identified.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Gordon D'Arcy: URC success the perfect springboard for Leinster's Lions contingent
Vince Lombardi quotes are tossed around more often than footballs, but for me, there is one in particular that carries a certain resonance – and it transports me back to a couple of moments in my career. The famous American football coach once observed that 'winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is'. Two images flood the mind's eye. The first is in a Heineken Cup semi-final against Perpignan at Lansdowne Road. I'm slow to get off the ground. Leinster are odds-on favourites. We lose, badly. The second match is in Bordeaux, another semi-final, this time against Clermont Auvergne and we fight tooth and nail to find a way to prevail. Lombardi's words came back to me once again at the weekend as I watched the United Rugby Championship (URC) final in Croke Park. Leinster wanted, needed the win, and they got it. The crowd relative to the size of the stadium was modest, but the performance was not. And while it wasn't razzle-dazzle in content, it doesn't diminish the appeal. Leinster's display was based on grit, precision and control, a champion's effort. It must also be respected as a stand-alone achievement of note, not a consolation prize. There had been a sense of emotional conflict for players and supporters alike going into the final, a hangover that lingered from the Champions Cup semi-final defeat to the Northampton Saints. READ MORE That's understandable, but it should not overshadow a URC triumph that represents a significant victory as a single entity but also in the broader context. Dan Sheehan perhaps said it best when he ventured that he wanted to go into Lions camp with a winner's medal. That's the thing. For all the talk of 'bigger prizes' and 'European glory,' players, like supporters, value trophies. Players live and breathe that sense of achievement, value it, and fight for it. The URC win may not have been top of the wish list, but make no mistake, this team cared deeply about lifting that trophy. Leinster had their cake earlier in the year with sell-outs at the Aviva and Croke Park, embroidered with rugby moments that sparkled and built anticipation. But in the business end of the season, fatigue crept into performances, numbers thinned in stands and a growling restlessness among supporters grew louder. In a game like this, no one wants the ball, but you need it to score points None of that mattered to the 23 in Leinster blue last Saturday. This was a throwback performance, the kind Leinster haven't needed to dig out too often in recent seasons, one that evoked memories of the day they finally beat La Rochelle, with Jacques Nienaber newly installed, and Ciaran Frawley nervelessly slotting the winning kick. A muddy, gritty classic in France, where territory and possession in the right third of the pitch were the only currency. In a game like this, no one wants the ball, but you need it to score points. While it sounds simple, teams that build their pressure points better get the opportunity first. You want the pack to grind, your nine to box-kick, your 10 to think. Leinster got all of that. Luke McGrath, a late entry to the starting jersey, delivered the kind of performance that underlines his importance. His box-kicking was accurate, his tempo sharp, and his decision-making perfectly tuned to the needs of the pack. Sam Prendergast, beside him, played the role of facilitator with quiet composure. No fireworks, just patience and poise; anonymous in the best possible way. Backed by James Ryan and Joe McCarthy, Leinster's scrum was a weapon, and Clarkson stood tallest Then there was Tom Clarkson, a player who came of age. He wasn't a safe pick; he was a merit pick, and he repaid that trust with interest. Backed by James Ryan and Joe McCarthy, Leinster's scrum was a weapon, and Clarkson stood tallest. He'll head to Georgia soon with a target on his back and a new standard to maintain. Leinster's Ryan Baird and Tom Clarkson celebrate Jack Conan's try against the Bulls in the URC final at Croke Park last weekend. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Elsewhere, foreign flair brought steel too. Jordie Barrett and RG Snyman gave reminders of why they were marquee signings. Barrett, in particular, offered a lesson in value, not the flashy or glitzy but the lasting kind. He carried in tight spaces, occupied defenders, hit the right line at the right time, the stuff that wins matches. Barrett doesn't just carry for metres; he carries to create, to shift the shape, to make someone else's job easier. That's Test-level rugby, and it's why he is what I would associate with being an All Black, the standard bearers. More than once, he drew three defenders. In a game where space was gold dust, that's a gift to any attack. He will leave a lasting memory and hopefully an influence on his former team-mates as he departs for New Zealand, and with it a lingering sense that the guy cared. Much like Brad Thorn in my day, the best players don't just survive tough games; they change them. Leinster will likely reflect on this season as fulfilling and frustrating. A title won, a bigger one lost but there's learning in both experiences. Perhaps one of the biggest questions heading into next season is around how they challenge themselves before the knockout stages. [ Lions v Argentina: TV details, kick-off time, team news and more Opens in new window ] There's a case to be made for mixing combinations more, stretching the fringe players, and manufacturing more pressure moments across the calendar. Easy wins can create a mirage of readiness. Maybe the hard games need to come sooner. Because when it gets tight, when it's one score in the final five minutes, that's when being battle hardened matters most. And now, for some, attention shifts. The Lions are gathering and among that pride, Leinster and Ireland players, wrangling emotions like satisfaction, regret and a sense of optimism, coexisting and powerful, capable of being harnessed and used positively in a different coloured jersey; a red one. The narrative from some quarters is that Joe Schmidt's Australia are there for the taking, that a Lions win in the Test series is already being touted as a fait accompli, even though the history tab says otherwise. If this Leinster group learned anything this season, it's that nothing is guaranteed. Good teams lose. That's sport. Lions selection is a rare honour; success within that environment is even more difficult to accomplish. And for those lucky enough to wear the iconic jersey this summer, the challenge is clear. Because as we've all been reminded, success is never given, it's taken.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals - all you need to know
After three rounds of group games in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, 16 has become 12 in the race for Sam Maguire. From here, it's knockout territory, with no second chances, and the dozen teams remaining on the dancefloor know what is expected to secure the ultimate prize. Advertisement Tyrone, Meath, Monaghan and defending champions Armagh - who all topped their respective groups - have the luxury of a free weekend as they await the winners of this weekend's preliminary quarter-finals in the last eight. For the eight teams in action this weekend, they must now win four games in five weeks, a gruelling schedule where fitness levels and squad depth will be tested to the limit. Last year, Galway made it all the way to the final from the preliminary quarter-final stage - the only team to do so since this current format was introduced in 2023 - and they will have to navigate that route again if they are to make the ultimate step. Let's dive into the four preliminary quarter-finals. Advertisement Who is playing and when are the games? As mentioned, eight teams will battle it out this weekend in the preliminary quarter-finals with two games on each day. Saturday - Kerry v Cavan, Fitzgerald Stadium, 15:30 BST Saturday - Dublin v Cork, Croke Park, 18:15 BST Sunday - Down v Galway, Pairc Esler, 13:45 BST Sunday - Donegal v Louth, Ballybofey, 16:00 BST Three of the teams in action this weekend were involved at the same stage last year: Louth, Cork and Galway. In fact, Louth beat Cork in a rousing victory in Inniskeen. Two of those involved at this stage last year - Tyrone and Monaghan - have already gone one better by moving straight through to the quarter-finals. Has the quarter-final draw been made? Due to the policy of avoiding repeat pairings from earlier in the competition, the draw will be made after the completion of this weekend's preliminary-quarter finals, most likely on Monday morning. Advertisement However, depending on how results fall this weekend, there is the very real possibility of an Armagh-Kerry quarter-final due to the above repeat pairing rule, but let's not get ahead of ourselves because as this year has shown, shocks can and often do happen. What to look out for this weekend It is difficult to look past Sunday's game in Newry between Down and Galway as the standout fixture this weekend. Despite suffering relegation from Division Two in the league, Down acquitted themselves well and were somewhat unlucky to suffer the drop on six points, but a defeat against Louth - which they avenged in the championship - proved fatal. Advertisement However, they bounced back to overcome Fermanagh in Ulster, only to lose out to eventual winners Donegal. Still, they entered the All-Ireland series with confidence, overcoming Clare and Louth. Their direct route to the last eight faded late on against Monaghan last week, however, Sunday despite some superb shooting from Pat Havern, whose ability to land two-pointers is a major asset for Conor Laverty's team, kicking three against the Farneymen. But then Galway are no slouches in that regard and in Shane Walsh, they have a man in form. When the chips were down against Armagh and with the exit door staring the Tribesmen in the face on Saturday, Walsh kept his side in the hunt: the last of his nine points with the final kick sealed victory and a spot in the knockout phase. In their three games, Galway have drawn to Derry, lost to Dublin by a point and beaten Armagh by one, so another nail-biter could be in store. Eoghan Ban Gallagher scored Donegal's goal in last year's All-Ireland quarter-final win over Louth at Croke Park [Getty Images] Later on Sunday, the Ulster and Leinster champions meet as Donegal host Louth in Ballybofey. Advertisement Despite a last-gasp victory over Mayo last week, they finished second behind Tyrone in Group One, with the Red Hands finishing top on the head-to-head rule courtesy of their victory over Donegal. Still, two victories on the spin will have gone a long way to putting that opening-round defeat behind them and they seem to be hitting their stride at the right time. Donegal face a Louth side who finished third in Group Three. Sam Mulroy and Ciaran Downey have been in flying form for Ger Brennan's men, with Craig Lennon continuing his All-Star form from 2024. However, this is a huge test of their credentials. Advertisement The weekend's opening game takes place in Killarney with Cavan facing a daunting trip to Kerry, who will be smarting from their shock loss to Meath which meant they failed to finish top for the first time in this format. Kerry have shown some vulnerability at times, with Cork so close to stunning them in Munster and Meath finishing the job in Tullamore last time out. They will be a wounded animal, and while Paudie Clifford is one of a host of absent Kingdom players, in David Clifford they have a generational talent. The Breffnimen have shown an ability to get it done on the road, with their opening round win away to Mayo ultimately proving enough to see them claim third in Group One, but heavy defeats by Donegal and Tyrone also suggest beating Kerry is a tall ask. Advertisement Paddy Lynch and Cormac O'Reilly shone for Raymond Galligan's men against Tyrone, but in order to beat Kerry, they will need to find another level. Con O'Callaghan returned to the Dublin fold in last weekend's win over Derry [Getty Images] Finally, Dublin return to home comforts at Croke Park on Saturday evening when they host Cork. The Dubs are fresh from their win over Derry in Newry which will have helped put their error-strewn loss to Armagh in the rear-view. With three-time All-Star Con O'Callaghan back, the Dubs have a much sharper end to their attack and will be favourites to advance against a Cork side which can blow hot and cold. John Cleary's men held their nerve to squeeze past Roscommon in a de facto knockout game in Portlaoise on Saturday, but will need to find the level of performance they produced against Kerry in Munster when they take on another of their traditional rivals this week. Are the games televised? All four games will be streamed live on GAA+. What about the Tailteann Cup? Of course, the weekend action is not limited to the race for Sam Maguire with both Tailteann Cup semi-finals taking place at Croke Park on Sunday. Advertisement First up, Oisin McConville's Wicklow - fresh from a famous triumph over Westmeath - take on Limerick, who swept past Wexford to reach the final four. Later on Sunday (16:00 BST), Kieran Donnelly's Fermanagh take on pre-competition favourites Kildare, who just about got over the line against Offaly in the last eight. The Ernemen enjoyed a good win over Sligo to reach this stage of the competition for the first time and will seek to continue their run as they look to emulate Down's success last year and earn a spot in the 2026 All-Ireland series. How can I follow on the BBC? The BBC Sport website will provide live text commentaries, reports and reaction from Sunday's games, in addition to reports from Saturday's games. Advertisement There will also be updates from Sunday's Tailteann Cup semi-finals: Wicklow v Limerick (14:00) and Fermanagh v Kildare (16:00).
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Breakout star playing Ireland's biggest summer gigs to 180k fans 2 years after tiny show set to headline Croke Park next
COUNTRY superstar Zach Bryan will soon be headlining Croke Park like Garth Brooks, a top promoter claims. The Advertisement 4 Peter Aiken said Zach Bryan will play Croke Park in no time Credit: Bryan_Meade 4 Zach's hits include Something in the Orange and I Remember Everything Credit: Getty 4 Croke Park was considered as a possible venue for this summer's gigs Credit: Alamy And concerts chief Peter Aiken believes the next step will be a gig at the home of He told The Irish Sun: 'The last time Zach played here was to 3,000 people in The Helix. 'Now two years later, we have 180,000 coming to Phoenix Park, so But Peter admits the rise of the country star, whose hits include Something in the Orange and I Remember Everything, has surprised many. Advertisement READ MORE IN SHOWBIZ He told us: 'A guy in the newsagents this morning asked me, 'Who is Zach Bryan?' 'He didn't know the name but by the weekend everybody in Grammy-winner Zach flies in today and will head straight to the Phoenix Park for a look at the setting for his gigs — the biggest this Americans are so smitten with Zach that 10,000 fans will jet in from the Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Breaking Latest The influx is expected to deliver the biggest boost for the capital since In a first for Irish gigs, Zach's concerts will also feature areas where no Garth Brooks quietly reschedules Jimmy Kimmel concert after abrupt cancellation as country singer faces rape accusations Peter explained: 'Drinking and talking is one of the biggest problems we get at concerts so we will have stewards on hand to make sure these areas remain alcohol free and There will also be a designated neurodivergent area during the gig. Advertisement Quizzed if Zach was 'the new sheriff' on the block to replace fan-favourite Garth, Peter hailed the young star as "more He said: "Zach is not country really. He's more like Springsteen, a great storyteller and very dynamic with loads of charisma. HUGE INVASION "I know from the last concert that fans will know every single word he's singing." But, Peter added that Zach shares the same rural appeal as Garth, with 85 per cent of the tickets for the three Phoenix Park shows sold outside Advertisement Peter said: "Expect a huge invasion of people from "We would have done this in Croke Park but, being the middle of the season, it wasn't available. "The Phoenix Park, the OPW, and the Aiken Promotions strongly advise punters attending the shows to use Advertisement Gates open at 5pm and the concert starts at 6pm with special guests Turnpike Troubadours and Noeline Hofmann. Given that most attendees will be using the Park Gate entrance, fans should leave at least 45 minutes to walk to the concert site. 4 Garth Brooks played five sold-out Croker shows in 2022 Credit: PA
